Thursday, June 19, 2003
Vol. 115 No.25
MOUNTAI"
QD
oY
- oe BY
Playground
- is a favorite
location for
summer fun
See Page 1B
Since 1889 50 Cents
Man
dies
from
wounds
BY ABIGAIL WOLFORD
Staff Writer
Jeffrey Rogers, 32, was
killed outside the house
where he was staying, on
‘Saturday. The latest avail-
able information indicates
that officers are still trying
to find suspects and a
motive.
Rogers was shot outside
the home of Janice Moore,
at 114 Pierce Drive, which is
off Margrace Road, south of
Kings Mountain. Rogers
was supposedly staying
there. The shooting hap-
pened at lunchtime.
Ms. Moore was at home
during the shooting.
Officers were looking for a
blue sport utility vehicle
mentioned by investigators
but were unsure as to
whether the occupants of
the car were actually
involved in the crime.
As of Sunday, no arrests
had been made and no sus-
pects had been named.
Calls to the Sheriff's Office
for an update were not
returned.
Train
strikes
man in
KM
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A Kings Mountain man
was killed early Friday
morning when he was
struck by a train near
Linwood Road. The man
has been identified as
Dennis Edward Moore, 43,
of 815 Phillips Drive.
According to police
reports, Moore was walking
along the railroad track
when a south bound train
approached. The Norfolk-
Southern engineer sounded
the whistle however Moore
continued to walk along the
tracks. The incident hap-
pened at approximately
1:50 a.m.
See Train, 3A
Reenactment group shows
history by demonstrations
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Peggy Jolley stood at a wooden table in
ANDIE L. BRYMER/ HERALD
Duke Power crews have rerouted electric lines in preparation for bridge construction at
N.C. 161 and Interstate 85. Construction is scheduled to begin in August, officials say.
Lines being rerouted
for bridge replacement
By ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Duke Power crews are rerouting electric
lines along N.C. 161, readying for construc-
tion of a new bridge and access ramps onto
Interstate 85.
Construction is slated to begin in August,
according to Dan Grissom, a construction
engineer with the state Department of
Transportation.
When completed, the project will allow
motorists to access the on ramp to I-85 with-
out making a left turn across N.C. 161.
“Right hand turns are a lot safer,”
Grissom said.
To eliminate the left turn, crews will build
a loop-style ramp for northbound entry onto
I-85. The entry point of the southbound
access ramp must be moved further from
the bridge to accommodate the new, wider
She hopes the group’s demonstrations will
help local residents realize the historical
resource that sits almost in their back door.
northbound access ramp.
The state purchased several homes and a
gas station to make way for the construc-
tion, Grissom said.
The project also calls for a new bridge
over 1-85. After the new bridge is complet-
ed, traffic will be routed onto it. During this
phase of construction, the old bridge will be
demolished. The road will remain open to
traffic throughout construction though
motorists should expect some delays,
Grissom said.
In addition to electric lines being rerout-
ed, the City of Kings Mountain must move
water, sewer and gas lines before construc-
tion can begin.
The completion date for the $6.5 million
highway project is October, 2005. The work
will be done by Taylor and Murphy
Construction of Asheville.
Public input
requested to
examine new
length of terms
BY ABIGAIL WOLFORD
Staff Writer °°
On Tuesday, Kings
Mountain City Council
members will hold a public
hearing about the proposed
lengthening terms in local
government. If the proposal
is passed by the voters in
November, the mayor and
Council members will serve
four years at a time, instead
of two years, beginning in
2005. The voters’ decision
will not effect those elected
in November.
Howard Shipp, mayor pro
tem, said at the last Council
meeting that it was impor-
tant to consider the matter
because with the terms as
they are right now, it would
be possible for citizens to
elect an entirely new
Council and mayor during
an election.
“It’s possible to come up
with a completely inexperi-
enced board,” said Shipp.
“It would be a disaster if
one November morning, we
woke up and had a whole
new board.”
Right now, 286 North
Carolina cities have stag-
gered four-year terms for
their city councils. At this
time, everyone on Kings
Mountain’s City Council
serves two year terms that
end at the same time. The
Council voted unanimously
to bring the matter before
the public at the next meet-
ing.
“Most cities recommend
four-year terms,” said
Mayor Rick Murphrey.
In the past, Kings
Mountain elected officials
have served four-year terms.
The move to two-year terms
occurred eight years ago.
The city held a special elec-
tion, as a result of a petition
from the Council.
Murphrey said that
advantages and disadvan-
tages exist for both the two-
year and the four-year
‘terms. He said the four-year
terms provide more stability
in the local government.
The Council members have
four years to learn the
process. Two-year terms
make it hard for Council
members to learn and gain
experience before they leave
office.
Advantages of the two-
year terms mainly center
around the fact that if a per-
son is not doing a good job,
they can be removed from
office sooner. Those who
are effective leaders can
simply be reelected.
Shipp has served on the
Council for two terms. He
said it has taken him all four
of the years he has served to
learn about the job. Two
years simply is not long
enough to learn all there is
to learn about the job.
“I find in this length of
time that I'm just now
beginning to feel comfort-
able with what I'm doing. It
takes some time to even
learn the ins and outs of the
job,” said Shipp.
He said he also recalls one
time when he was young
when the entire City
Council changed over after
an election. The mayor at
the time was Garland Still,
he said. With the four years
staggered terms, the city
would never have to face a
completely new Council all
at once.
“If something happened
once, it could happen
again,” he said.
Councilman Jim Guyton
also voiced his support for
the change.
“I'm strictly for the four-
year terms if the citizens
vote for it,” he said.
Guyton said his first term
on the Council was a four-
year term.
“At the end of two years, I
didn’t even know my way
around City Hall,” he said.
He said the four-year
terms would allow new
Council members to learn
more about the office and
the city. Plus, the staggered
terms would prevent the
entire Council from being
voted out of office at the
same time. An entirely new,
inexperienced Council that
takes office overnight could
be disastrous for the city.
Councilman Gene White
originally presented the
petition for the change in
term length. He cited the
two-year term lengths of
See Terms, 3A
middle of the forest, chopping peaches for a
pie. She would cook the dessert over an
open fire while her husband Buck helped
recruit more citizen soldiers for the Kings
Mountain Backcountry Militia.
The peaches were real, but the recruitment
drive was pretend. The June 14 and 15 activ-
ities were part of King Mountain National
Military Park’s new reenactment group.
Mrs. Jolley’s now spends many weekends
dressing up in clothing of the late 1700s,
camping out in a canvas tent and cooking
without modern conveniences.
“My husband and I were hunting for
something to do together. We love history
~ and its a cool way to teach,” she said. “The
public is a hoot.” :
Xe
koko (Celebrating 129 Years
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
While the Kings Mountain group is new,
several members have participated in other
reenactment groups. They are educating
new members like the Jolleys.
“Everybody is so willing to teach,” she
said.
During the late 18th Century, all men
between ages 16 and 60 were required to
join the militia with the exception of minis-
ters and mill owners. The men came togeth-
er regularly for battle practice, usually at the
captain’s farm.
Wives and children came along for two
reasons - safety and a chance to socialize.
The settlers were still fighting the Native
NAN
ANDIE L. BRYMER/HERALD
Dan Stowe orders “new recruits” to draw their weapons as Dave Sherrill gives a firing
demonstration. The action took place Saturday during the Backcountry Militia encamp-
See Reenactment, 3A ment at Kings Mountain National Military Park.
Gastonia Shelby
529 New Hope Road 106 S Lafayette St.
704-865-1233 704-484-6200
Kings Mountain
300 W. Mountain St.
704-739-4782
Bessemer City
225 Gastonia Hwy.
704-629-3906